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Strategic consulting for arts and culture

I help create more nimble organizations to power and sustain the ambitious visions of cultural innovators.

Arts-Minded. Business-Tested. Results-Proven.

While traditional business consultants don't always honor the soul of mission-driven organizations, many arts consultants don't fully grasp commercial realities. I’ve worked across the arts ecosystem and commercial spectrum, from startups to non-profits to Fortune 100, and I’ll show you how artistic purpose and commercial sustainability can reinforce each other. This bridge will guide you to quick results and an effective foundation for stability, resilience, agility and amplified impact.

An artist in a white lab coat standing in an art studio, holding sculpting tools, with various white sculptures and artwork on the wall behind her, and a table with art supplies in the foreground.
People watching an outdoor movie on a large screen at sunset with a city skyline in the background.
A woman sitting on a bench in an art gallery, viewing paintings on the wall. The gallery has wooden floors, beige walls, and framed landscape paintings, some with ornate gold frames.

Your vision isn't too ambitious. Your organization just isn't built for it yet.

Strategic solutions for every stage

I bring battle-tested business strategies from Fortune 100 operational excellence to entrepreneurial growth tactics, adapted specifically for arts organizations. After decades of work across the sector, I know how to strengthen your impact and bottom line, all while bringing your vision to life.

Whether you need project-based support or ongoing strategic guidance, I will tailor a plan that drives the impact you’re seeking—and you’ll soon have cornerstones of your ambitions come into clear view.

Stability

Losing sleep with budget shortfalls or key unfilled roles? I get your organization back on track with the operational foundations and organizational designs that provide lasting financial and strategic clarity —and more sleep.

Resilience

Need new revenue fast after that grant got cancelled, or wasting countless hours piecing together data to evaluate opportunities? I retrofit your organization with the systems, data and strategic revenue frameworks that adapt to changing circumstances and opportunities.

Growth

Big vision but limited resources, or don’t know which next big idea to tackle first? I align ambitious goals with strategic execution to turn ideas into reality—and sustainable impact.

Real transformations

I’ve supported dozens of visionary arts leaders, from startups to non-profits to global businesses, helping their organizations thrive, and bringing more than a hundred million dollars into the arts ecosystem and culture economy.

  • Prepared department for most successful sale to date with improved systems for collaboration, focus and operational excellence. Successful framework deployed to all U.S. divisions. 

  • Doubled earned income within months, including +30% growth in corporate partnerships, enabling guaranteed salaries for company artists, and balanced budgets. 

  • Launched online education division, increasing company income by 25% within months and set on path to profitability

  • Launched first earned revenue stream within weeks, leading to 6-figure grant and organizational sustainability.

  • Guided CEO on implications of AI pivot and partnership opportunities, including investment impacts, eventually leading to company’s acquisition.  

  • Guided CEO and advisors on winning growth strategy with AI roadmap, expanding impact with prioritized partnerships and sustainable capital plan. 

Kind words from cultural leaders

  • “Katie’s insights have been instrumental in helping us prioritize high-growth sectors, effectively balance and bridge the cultural and commercial opportunities, and align operational plans with long-term value creation.”

    —CEO and Founder, arts startup at major inflection point

  • “Katie was a key player in structuring an essential component of our department’s current health. As a result everyone knows where we are going, and we are able to plan far further into the future than ever used to be the case. As the hub of a team of interesting, dynamic but often difficult individuals, Katie has been able as such to help create order out of what might have been chaos.”

    —International Head of Department, major art organization

  • “I'm really grateful I didn't just keep running up against that wall and sat down with a thought partner to prioritize and strategize. My shoulders have already come down two inches….Her partnership is really transformational and has impacted several founders in our community. She is unique in that she can very quickly assess the most important boulder to move - and unlock the meaningful strategies and actions you can take to transform your business...For me, we got new revenue in weeks.”

    —Anna Steffeney, CEO & Executive Director of Founder Community (and Exited Founder) 

  • “Our investment in Katie was worth every penny, and I am more confident than I've ever been working through the scalability of our business model in terms that are attractive to our investors and business partners.”

    —Amanda Lukof, Co-Founder and CEO

  • “Tremendously appreciative of your drive and focus on expanding the company’s visibility and contributed support (to name two of many things), as well as your unwavering commitment to the artistic vision.”

    —Board, Performing Arts Organization in NYC

  • “Most advisors are just temporary, high-level consultants. You spend most of your time just getting them to understand your business. Katie was able to dive in and help us with the details, and no time was wasted in getting us back on track.”

    —Co-Founder, YC startup

A smiling woman with long brown hair, wearing earrings, a white blouse, and a black blazer, outdoors with lush green foliage in the background.

Meet Katie

I'm Katie—amateur pianist, strategic dynamo, and fierce champion for arts leaders.

Ever since I was a toddler, perching on the piano bench to reach the keys, I’ve had a profound connection to the arts and their impact. Over my 20+ years making it my professional mission to help the arts thrive, I’ve built tools from a billion-dollar arts organization to Stanford's MBA program, then Fortune 100 strategy roles, and back to arts nonprofit and arts startup leadership.

I've seen first-hand how the best commercial strategies maximize resources and create sustainable growth—and I've learned which amplify artistic missions instead of undermining them. In my first arts leadership role, these approaches led to sustainability within months. I'm most proud that we could then guarantee the company's first-ever base salaries for all artists and later subsidize a new work for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Today, I introduce these adapted business strategies for arts organizations to thrive - and strengthen rather than compromise ambitious visions for artists and executives alike.

Contact me

Whether you're a leader exploring new strategic approaches to expand your mission, facing a specific challenge or surprise, or want to discuss dynamic approaches in the arts, I'd love to hear from you. 

Creative purpose, commercial expertise

Together, we’ll transform your arts organization to power your biggest ideas.